About Technique and Republic

“Technique“, New Order’s fifth studio album shows the impact of acid house on the band, where the band took their rock and dance influences to create the album.

The album was released in 1989, just after the bands infamous G-Mex gig. The album went to number one in the UK, which was the first album of the bands to do so.

The album was also a massive success across the pond in the United States, where some of the bands singles reached the top of the American dance charts.

Tracks on the album included “Fine Time” and “Blue Monday“.

At the time NME proclaimed the band “had fashioned an LP of rare and unflinching honesty” and across in the USA, SPIN called it New Order’s best album.

Many consider “Technique” to mark the high point of New Order as they went on to headline Reading Festival in August 1989 after the album.

“Republic” went to number one in the UK and became the band’s biggest ever selling album in America, as it peaked at number eleven in the Billboard chart.

It is not unknown that “Republic” was New Order’s most difficult album to make.

Factory Records had hit financial trouble so they needed New Order to make a successful album in order to save the label.

This however didn’t save them and Factory Records went bankrupt in November 1992. New Order then signed to London Records, an offshoot of Warner Bros with “Republic” being released in May 1993.

The band roared back with their first single “Regret“, still thought to be the bands best single ever! With other singles from that album like “Ruined In A Day” and “World” dominating the dance charts.

However, “Republic” did not receive the best reviews from the music press industry with All Music commenting “Republic simply borrows elements of contemporary innovations in club music to frame a set of effortlessly enjoyable alternative pop songs.”

Peter Hook and The Light’s decision to include the album in the concerts underline their commitment to perform all of Hooks catalogue that he has committed to record.